Republicans find it tough to back Gonzales over firings

[maddezmom]

Republicans find it tough to back Gonzales over firings
E-mails indicate Congress unaware how involved the White House was


By MICHELLE MITTELSTADT
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON — The controversy swirling around Attorney General Alberto Gonzales over the firing of eight U.S. attorneys intensified Tuesday, with Senate Republicans offering only a qualified defense in the face of calls by some Democrats that he resign.

Even Texas Republican Sens. John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison — typically full-throated defenders of the Bush administration — expressed concern that Gonzales and the Justice Department had mishandled explanations to Congress about the White House's involvement in the prosecutors' firing last December.

"Appearances are troubling," Cornyn said. "I think the executive branch owes it to Congress to be forthcoming when Congress asks for information, and this has not been handled well."

The administration sought Tuesday to tamp down the growing scandal, which already has prompted the resignation of Gonzales' chief of staff and sparked the threat that top White House officials could be subpoenaed to appear before Congress. Among the possible witnesses: White House political adviser Karl Rove and former presidential counsel Harriet Miers, who has returned to Dallas since leaving the administration

more:http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/chronicle/4627376.html

[jamesinca]

1. I heard it on Randi Rhodes the other day

Dems have been in charge in congress for 2 months and how many hearings, how many investigations, how many subpoenas? This has been going on for 6 years and the republics in congress did not once call this administration on it. Arlen Specter sniveled about a lack of co-operation, but did he subpoena?

I think they are playing all in poker, hoping to take back both houses and the presidency in '08. If they don't criticize to much they will curry favor from fellow hard liners and neo-cons when that happens. 21 republic senators are up for election this time, lets take them all out of office!!!

[salin]

3. the longer they (congressional gopers) don't realize that bushco

is about to knock them and their whole party out of power - the better, in the sense that we are almost to the point that each month more of these outrages -without repubs joining in to stop the outrages - is probably equal to another year that the GOP will be kept out of power.

[lligrd]

2. Hard To Justify Firing Their "Own Kind"

I guess the "First They Came For The Jews," is finally hitting home for them.

[kestrel91316]

14. I wrote to John Ensign about this exact idea - the chickens are

coming home to roost and he's another unhappy Repubic.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=3152132

[Skittles]

4. it's pretty bad when Texas repuke whores start wavering

yes INDEED

[BigDDem]

5. What??

Cornyn took his nose out of Bush's ass?
Put me down as shocked.

[coalition_unwilling]

10. Amazingly, Darrell Issa (R-California) on Lehrer Newshour last

night was calling for mass resignations from DOJ. My jaw almost dropped to the floor. :)

On edit, that's probably an inccorect use of the adverb "amazingly". But it definitely was amazing! :)

[gratuitous]

6. "This has not been handled well"

You know, if you put enough lipstick on that pig, give it a beautiful wig, and call it Monique . . . it's still a pig. And it doesn't matter how you dress up this political purge . . . it's still a political purge. "Forthcoming" doesn't begin to address the problem this episode represents. This administration is corrupt and rotten to the very core, and we won't be past these troubling appearances until they're all gone -- preferably to prison.

[leQ]

11. i like how you think. (eom)

[Occulus]

13. "Appearances are troubling,"

God DAMN that passive voice shit....

[gratuitous]

15. It's like, "I didn't hit that guy, my fist did"

So, talk to the hand.

[UTUSN]

7. Only when the Rethugs turn will he be a goner, NOT when Dems "demand" he go n/t

[jamesinca]

18. A poll on here a few days ago says that won't happen

A poll was posted here from NYT or CNN or some other place regarding republics and what they are looking for in a candidate for '08. Just under 40% wanted a Bush clone and his policy's, roughly the same number wanted a more conservative president and other 10 some odd percent wanted less conservative. His is everything they have wanted, I think he may pass St. Ronnie in their minds as greatest president ever.

[noonwitch]

8. I have mixed feelings about this

I don't like it when people are fired from jobs for no good reason. I'm a union member myself.

But if there was good cause to fire the US attorneys, then they should have been fired.

I actually like the Bush-appointed US attorney for my area, and I like the guy Clinton had appointed also. Jeffrey Collins is Bush's guy. I like him because of the way he handled a criminal case in Detroit, when he was a judge. A man chased a woman with a tire iron and she jumped off the Belle Isle bridge in fear. She drowned in the river because she couldn't swim. The guy was convicted of 2nd degree murder, not the manslaughter conviction his lawyer was pushing for. Collins gave him 20 years, too.

[LeFleur1]

9. Firings

The firings of these attorneys had to do with whether or not the White House could pull their strings.
That's it. This administration either doesn't know how our government is suppose to work, and that the checks and balances were deliberately built into it, or they don't care because they want the power without checks and balances. It's simple.
Maybe this interference with the judicial system is the power grab that will bring this poisonous administration down. We can hope.

[Roland99]

12. They're not upset or concerned w/the firings, just the *handling* (PR) aspect of it.

Fucking repukes.

Always campaigning, never governing.

[xxqqqzme]

16. '...had mishandled explanations to Congress ...'

THAT's what they're concerned about?!?

[CRK7376]

17. I hope they choke on this

Gag and puke till they drop. Make it hurt all the way down too. I understand it's the Prez choice to hire and fire....he deserves what he gets....